Posts tagged ‘Fractions’

Speed Dating with Fractions, Percentages and Decimals

When preparing a resource to take and share at mathsconf4, I wanted to share something which I find valuable and seems to make a difference to pupils learning. So I chose a resource, originally from TES (complex_number) for a topic I find pupils struggle with, yet is a basis for so much mathematics: converting between fractions, decimals and percentages. The resources I use are for groups with little or no understanding of the connections between the three as they start off quite basic.

It starts with a slideshow of artwork where proportions could be viewed as a theme. IMG_0337This includes works from Piet Mondrian, Victor Vasarely, Ellsworth Kelly and Frank Stella. With a quick review of what fraction, percentage and decimal (based on a 100 square, so using £s and p to support the decimals) mean, pupils then create their own artwork on their 100 square.  They then use their art work to write the fraction, percentage and decimal of each colour used.   The advantage of using this resource has been to consolidate the connection between the fraction out of 100 to the percentage. IMG_0339 The next step is to move onto a 50 grid, 25 grid, 20 grid and 10 grid, and hence the need to change the fraction to out of 100 in order to write the percentage.   Accompanying the grids are some fraction, percentage and decimal tables, with an extra column for the fraction out of 100, for pupils to practise their conversions. IMG_0342 IMG_0343 A similar resource I’ve used is a skittle pie charts. I’ve done this by giving out skittles (20, 25 or 40) and pupils to make their own circles, grouping the colours, section ing them off and writing the fraction, percentage and decimal for each section. I’ve also given out a template for pupils to colour in given skittles (this was actually to help with interpreting pie charts, but linked in nicely to the fractions, percentages and decimals work the pupils had completed previously. IMG_2292 IMG_2293  IMG_0338 All the files are linked below to use and adapt as wished! 1. Equivalent FDP Mosaic 2014 1. Mosaic Art 1. Mosaic Fractions Sheet 2. FDP Calculation Foldable 2. FDP Starter 2. Interpreting pie charts 2. Interpreting Pie Charts 3. FDP The original idea and basis for these came from TES (complex_number) and an American website, all freely available.  I’ve adapted into my own documents and made them to suit my groups.  Thanks, as always, to the originators of the ideas to sharing so freely, allowing me to use your ideas in teaching my groups.

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Learning Aids, Number

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Sharing Good Practice – 100 Outstanding Mathematics Ideas

Once a fortnight in our department we have a spare 10 minute briefing slot, so a couple of years ago, our then TLR holder introduced a teaching and learning briefing session to share good practice. These are usually topic based for upcoming topics! Today’s, however was a feedback on 100 outstanding maths lessons, by Mike Ollerton. A few of us were tasked with reading and trialling out a few ideas.

One colleague had tried out the cuboid and prism volume, a lovely activity of folding a piece of paper length ways into a cuboid (or bigger edged prism) and using the open end on square paper to find the area and then volume.  Another tested out idea was an angles activity, again starting with a piece of paper, following some rules for folding to provide more than 20 angles to work out using angle rules, or to measure.  What’s even better with these is the lack of time needed to prepare resources!

The ideas I tried out included another paper folding activity to help adding fractions with different denominators.  It was a great way of helping pupils understand how to find a common denominator and why, especially with my lower set group.

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I also tried out partition and product – a number investigation which was easily adapted for a lower set year 9 group and top set year 7 by how much information was given to the pupils to start with.

The final idea I partly used was area of 20cm2, but instead of using area, I found a similar idea using perimeter of 12cm.  It worked really nicely with the year 7s, particularly as I could use the visualiser to display some ideas, which then prompted others to find more interesting shapes.

100 Outstanding Maths Ideas (3 of them)

I would really recommend the book.  It does what it says on the cover: Outstanding Ideas, which come with the bonus of being able to use without time needed to prepare (or photocopy) resources.

 

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Learning Aids

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